The UAE is enhancing food security and supply chain resilience through agri-tech innovation, financing and public-private collaborations.
ABU DHABI: The UAE continues to cement its global leadership in food security through strategic initiatives, advanced technologies and strong public-private partnerships aimed at building a self-sufficient and resilient food ecosystem. Underpinned by the National Food Security Strategy 2051, these efforts focus on enhancing agricultural production, streamlining logistics and encouraging innovation.
Abu Dhabi’s food and beverage sector has seen record growth in 2025, with 24,594 active business memberships and a 42.2% rise in new SME entries, according to the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This surge highlights the emirate’s emergence as a regional hub for food innovation and investment.
In Dubai, world-class logistics infrastructure and a strategic geographic position support its growing role as a global centre for food trade. Jebel Ali Port handles over 73% of the UAE’s food and beverage trade by value, linking to more than 150 ports worldwide. Dubai’s ecosystem of accelerators, vertical farming projects and food hubs reinforces the nation’s position as a global food movement node.
To further boost innovation, the Emirates Development Bank launched the UAE’s first AgriTech financing programme with an AED100 million fund to support cutting-edge agricultural start-ups and projects. Meanwhile, initiatives such as Food Tech Valley—developed by Wasl and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment—serve as integrated platforms for agri-tech development, bringing together international companies, research centres and supply chain partners under one ecosystem.
Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the UAE Food and Beverage Manufacturers Group, noted that the country’s proactive leadership and strengthened post-pandemic public-private partnerships have transformed the UAE into a leading global food security hub. He also pointed to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s Food Cluster Economy initiative as a model for stakeholder integration, spanning farming, manufacturing and distribution.
Ahmed Al Shaibani, Director of Food Tech Valley, emphasised the project’s role in attracting global food enterprises and facilitating innovation. He said it helps develop a full value chain from production to consumption, ensuring local food products are now prominent in UAE supermarkets—a major leap from just a few years ago.
These developments reflect the UAE’s broader vision of becoming a global pioneer in sustainable food production, boosting self-sufficiency, and preparing a future-ready agricultural sector driven by technology, talent and investment.
